Zimbabwe: Developments since the military takeover
November 14: Tanks are seen moving on the outskirts of the capital a day after army chief Constantino Chiwenga denounces Mugabe’s sacking of vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa. Military officers deny a coup. In an overnight declaration on state television, they say Mugabe is safe and they are “only targeting criminals around him”.
November 15: Military vehicles take control of the streets of Harare from the early hours, controlling access to parliament, ruling party headquarters and the Supreme Court. South Africa sends two special envoys to Zimbabwe. The European Union
urges a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
November 16: Mugabe refuses to step down during talks with generals, a source close to the army leadership says. Mugabe and envoys from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) regional bloc, dispatched by Zuma, hold talks at the presidency.
November 17: Mugabe makes a first public appearance since the military takeover, attending a university graduation ceremony. Eight of the 10 regional branches of the ruling Zanu-PF party also call for him to resign.
November 18: Thousands of protesters flood Zimbabwe’s streets demanding Mugabe’s resignation.
November 19: The influential youth league leader of Zanu-PF calls for Mugabe and his wife Grace to go. Former vicepresident Mnangagwa replaces Mugabe as Zanu-PF party chief and Grace Mugabe is expelled. But in a live televised address, Mugabe defies expectations he will resign, instead saying he will preside over Zanu-PF’s congress in December. November 20: Zanu-PF sets plans for launching the impeachment process in parliament after Mugabe misses the noon deadline to quit.
November 21: Mnangagwa issues a statement in which he calls for Mugabe to stand down.